Cuts begin to take effect in local authority museums

Patrick Steel, Issue 112/05, p13, 01.05.2012

Council budget setting leads to severe cuts for some museums

Museums Sheffield, which was unsuccessful in its Renaissance funding bid, has announced details of 43 posts that will be made redundant at the end of September. Eleven are curatorial and exhibitions posts, with 21 in learning.

As Museums Journal went to press, Derby City Council was about to vote on a proposal to transfer its museums to a charitable trust.

Also looking to move to trust status by this autumn, Nottingham Industrial Museum, closed by the council in 2009, reopened in March staffed by 60 volunteers. The museum is open at weekends and bank holidays, and has already had more than 1,000 visitors.

Science Alive, which is negotiating the takeover of the Museum of Harlow from Harlow District Council, aims to open the museum this month, staffed by its records officer and 20 volunteers.

The negotiations include a three-year funding agreement with the council, to give Science Alive time to develop new income streams.

Kirklees Council has agreed to keep the Red House Museum open, but will introduce an admission charge from 1 June. The council is also expected to make a decision on changes to opening hours at its other museums this month.